Educational Attainment
Nearly 30% of South Carolina adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023.
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year (FRED GCT1502SC).
| Indicator | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9 | 34.3 |
- •Clemson University and the University of South Carolina together enroll more than 65,000 students each year.
Schools
South Carolina operates about 1,280 public schools across 79 school districts.
Public schools reporting teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Public school enrollment (K-12)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
- •Greenville County Schools is the largest school district in South Carolina, serving more than 76,000 students.
Universities
The University of South Carolina and Clemson lead the state system, alongside the Medical University of South Carolina.
College and graduate school students
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, undergraduate + graduate/professional, B14001 (2020 not released).
Graduation Rates
South Carolina's public high school graduation rate reached 84.6% in the 2022-2023 school year.
Adults 25+ with a high school diploma or higher
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B15003 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| High School Graduation Rate | 84.6 | 87 |
- •South Carolina's graduation rate has risen more than 15 percentage points since 2011, one of the largest gains nationally.
Student Enrollment
South Carolina's public schools enrolled approximately 780,000 K-12 students in the 2023 school year.
People enrolled in school (age 3+)
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B14001 (2020 not released).
- •Fort Mill School District near Charlotte has been one of the fastest-growing districts in the state for over a decade.
Student-Teacher Ratios
South Carolina's average public school student-teacher ratio was about 14.9 to 1 in 2023.
Students per full-time teacher (public schools)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Full-time-equivalent public school teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 14.9 | 15.4 |
- •South Carolina has offered teacher signing bonuses in high-need rural districts to address chronic shortages.